As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary of independence, a whiskey seeks to honor that moment – not with spectacle, but with craft, lineage, and quiet symbolism. Whiskey JYPSI, the Nashville-based distillery co-founded by country singer Eric Church and entrepreneur Raj Alva, has released Legacy Batch 003, aptly titled ‘The Declaration.’
Timed to commemorate this milestone, ‘The Declaration’ revives a Colonial-era Maryland-style rye mash bill, bridging early American distilling tradition with modern whiskey precision. Rather than chasing novelty, the limited-edition release looks backward with intention. Crafted from aged spirits drawn from three distinct origins, the whiskey undergoes a finishing process in apple brandy barrels connected to George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon Distillery. This choice is more than symbolic, as it continues the production of apple brandy using copper pot stills heated by wood fires, and its ledgers confirm that Washington distilled small quantities of apple brandy in 1798 and 1799.
The Declaration honors the heritage of rye, once the spirit of revolutionaries. The whiskey is a disciplined three-part blend: 60 percent rye aged eight to twelve years and finished in Mount Vernon apple brandy casks; 30 percent corn whiskey aged twenty to twenty-five years and re-barreled in new American oak; and 10 percent Virginia single malt aged eight years. Bottled at a commanding 57.87 percent ABV, the whiskey delivers both structural authority and aromatic nuance. Packaging developed in collaboration with Greyson Clothiers carries its own layer of historical symbolism, drawing from Mount Vernon iconography, early American distilling motifs, and the Gadsden flag’s timber rattlesnake.
“We balanced rye’s characteristic spice with the sweetness of corn,” says Whiskey JYPSI maker Ari Sussman. “That balance is what we set out to create.” The blend’s architecture reflects that equilibrium. The rye component comes from eight- to twelve-year-old 95/5 rye sourced from Indiana, while the corn element originates as twenty- to twenty-five-year-old Canadian corn whiskey, later re-barreled in new American oak for two and a half years. Completing the profile is an eight-year-old American single malt from Virginia, which adds a fragrant, floral, biscuit-forward aromatic lift. “Sourcing from one of the oldest and most historic distilleries in America to produce ‘The Declaration’ is a perfect example of our spirit,” says Alva. Church echoes that sentiment, stating, “To mark the 250th anniversary, we wanted to make something that’s more than a commemorative bottle… It’s a testament to the grit, restlessness, and innovation that built this country.”
The Declaration now stands as the most historically anchored expression in the portfolio, a whiskey that does not merely reference the past but materially engages with it through sourcing, cask selection, and blend design. Available in limited quantities, Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 003: ‘The Declaration’ carries a suggested retail price of $199.99 and is offered through select wine and spirit retailers as well as online at buy.whiskeyjypsi.com.
